PROUD PIRATES – Terry Dehere (left) and Jerry Walker (right), two local members of the 1992-93 Seton Hall basketball team, were honored last week as the school celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Big East regular season and tournament champions.

It’s been 20 years since Seton Hall won the regular season and Big East Tournament basketball championships.

“It doesn’t seem like it was 20 years,” said the school’s all-time leading scorer, Jersey City native Terry Dehere. “It seems like it was last Tuesday. “You would never think it was 20 years. It was a great time and a wonderful opportunity for us.”

Seton Hall honored the 20th anniversary of that team with a halftime presentation during their game with Cincinnati last week.

The 1992-93 Pirates had four Jersey City natives on its roster, namely Dehere, Jerry Walker, Danny Hurley and Luther Wright. Although they lost in the second round of the 1993 NCAA Tournament, that team is still considered one of the very best in the school’s rich basketball tradition.

“It was very special for time for us,” said Dehere, who scored 2,494 points in his career at Seton Hall before heading off to play in the NBA for six seasons with the Los Angeles Clippers, Vancouver Grizzlies and Sacramento Kings. “It’s like a family thing. I played with Jerry since we were 10 years old.”

“It was a great basketball team,” said Walker, who recently announced his candidacy for mayor of Jersey City. “We were mostly all local kids and we developed a strong chemistry and bond. I think that separated us from the rest. Jersey City had a lot of basketball talent back then and a lot of it went to Seton Hall. I can’t believe it’s 20 years. Time goes by so fast.”

Walker was asked about his mayoral hopes.

“I just want to make sure we’re prepared for our future in Jersey City,” said Walker, who formed the Team Walker organization to benefit the youth of Jersey City when his playing days were done. “It’s a great opportunity for me to lead a great city. I’m looking to change the direction of the city.”

Walker was asked about rumors he entered the race against incumbent Jerramiah Healy and Councilman Steve Fulop to make it more competitive, because unless one of the three gets 50 percent of more of the vote a runoff election would be necessary.

“No, I’m a warrior and I’m in it to win it,” Walker said.

Dehere, who was a former member of the Jersey City Board of Education and a candidate for City Council in 2001, was happy for his friend and teammate’s efforts.

“Jerry has always been a fierce competitor,” Dehere said. “He sees the need to help and I applaud his ambition.”

How about Dehere, a businessman and restaurateur, getting back into politics?

“Oh, no, I’m happily retired,” Dehere said….

Both Walker and Dehere were teammates at St. Anthony as well and the fabulous Friars saw their record-setting 83-game win streak come to an end last Friday at the hands of St. Benedict’s Prep.

But the loss shouldn’t have a huge impact on the upcoming NJSIAA state playoffs because St. Benedict’s is not a member of the NJSIAA and therefore ineligible for the state tournament. The Friars are clearly the favorites to repeat as Tournament of Champions winners…

St. Peter’s Prep clearly opened some eyes when the Marauders soundly defeated Plainfield at the Brian Doherty Memorial Tournament at the Prudential Center, right before the St. Anthony-St. Benedict’s game. The Marauders trounced Plainfield, 49-26, defeating a team that played St. Anthony in the T of C finals in each of the last two seasons. Austin White had 15 points and recent Athlete of the Week Trevis Wyche had 11 points, six assists, six steals and five rebounds for the Marauders, who have hit their stride at the right time, winning four straight…